The Emporia Recreation Commission is in the preparation stages for another pair of informational events related to the quarter-cent sales tax question, which will be on the upcoming general election ballot in November.
Rec Director Amanda Gutierrez offered an update on those efforts as part of the ERC’s monthly meeting Monday evening, telling KVOE News the events in September and October will mirror a pair of community sessions held earlier this month with very little change. Gutierrez says the goal will again be to illustrate the importance of rec facilities in the community, the purpose of the sales tax question.
The informational sessions will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm on September 17th at the Lyon County Fairgrounds Anderson Building and October 13th inside the Lee Beran Recreation Center. The sales tax question was approved to go on the general election ballot by the Emporia City Commission during their latest meeting this past Wednesday.
If approved, the quarter-cent tax will serve as the primary funding mechanism for a new recreation center at the Jones Aquatic Center and necessary upgrades to the Lee Beran Recreation Center, with the total project price tag coming to just under $24 million.
In other business, Gutierrez offered an update, of sorts, on the Debauge Soccer Complex, with Gutierrez noting they still do not have a starting date for the project; however, it is becoming clearer with a contractor, Icon Structures of Wichita, with current plans being to begin physical work at the conclusion of the fall youth soccer season in late October.
Again, Gutierrez says there is no exact start date on the schedule at this time; however, there are 290 calendar days built into the schedule. This will mean construction will likely overlap the spring soccer season, but this is not an unexpected scenario, with Gutierrez noting they knew the project would overlap one season or the other.
Once the renovations on Deabauge are completed next year, there will be a new turf field, parking improvements, a new concession area, new restrooms and additional storage.
In separate business Monday, ERC members also reviewed a policy on rights to refuse service and received an insurance update. The ERC will reconvene in September for their regular business meeting.
